Roller for fireproof blinds or curtains.



No. 781,895. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. B. H. MoOLOUD.

ROLLER FOR FIREPROOP BLINDS OR CURTAINS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1904.

Qwventoz EdwardHMSClaud UNITED STATES Patented February 7, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

EDIVARI) H. MoCLOUD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ROLLER FOR FIREPROOF BLINDS OR CURTAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 781,895, dated February 7, 1905.

Application file 1duly 2,1904. Serial N0- 215,123.

To all wit/mt it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. MeCLoUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Golumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rollers for Fireproof Blinds or Curtains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention while intended more particularly for use in connection with rollers for fireproof curtains or blinds can be used in other situations.

The object of the invention is to do away with the long coiled springs heretofore deemed necessary in such rollers, and consequently lessen the cost of construction of the rollers.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in the combination with a winding-shaft of two gears thereon one loose and the other fixed-a coilspring connecting the gears, and means for turning both gears, but the fixed gear at a faster rate than the loose one, so that when turned in the proper direction the difference of their rates of turning will effect the tightening of the spring and give it the necessary tension to counterbalance or partly counterbalance the weight of the curtain.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the curtain-roller. Fig. 2 is an end view looking at the hoisting mechanism.

The curtain-roller is of any appropriate construction. In the present instance it is shown to comprise a tube 1, having in and projecting from its ends stud-shafts l and on its ends collars 1, pins 1 being passed through the collars, tube, and shafts to secure them all together. The roller is mounted to turn on the stud-shafts l in brackets or end casings 2 and 2. The bracket 2 is cast with a pocket 2 around its bearing. Loose on the right-hand stud-shaft, as seen in Fig. 1, is a spur-gear 3, having a hub and a chamber 3 around its hub, and keyed on the end of the same shaft is another spur-gear at of smaller diameter than the spur-gear 3. The gear 4: also has a hub, said hub being of the same diameter as that of the hub 3. These two hubs when placed end to end form a cylinder around which the coilspring 5 is placed, and the two gears form an inclosed chamber incasing the spring. This spring has one end attached to the gear 3 and the other attached to the gear 4. Engaging the gear 3 is a small pinion 6, and engaging the gear 4, is a pinion 7 of larger diameter. Both said pinions 6 and 7 are shown to be on the same shaft 8, and they are turned in unison by means of a hoisting-chain 9, running over a sprocket-wheel 10. The sprocketwheel l0 and the pinions 6 and 7 can all be made in one piece, or they can be made as separate pieces secured together. Vhen this construction is used in connection with a curtain, the latter (designated 11) is secured to the rims of the collars 1".

The operation of the construction shown is as follows: Upon turning the sprocketwheel 10 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, the curtain is wound up and the spring relaxed, and upon turning the said sprocket in the opposite direction the curtain is lowered and the spring tightened. The tension of the spring is communicated through the connected pinions to the roller, and as the curtain is lowered this tension is gradually increased, thus counter-balancing or partly counter-balancing the weight of the unrolled curtain and making the operation thereof easy.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a winding-shaft, a gear loose thereon and a gear fixed thereon, a spring connecting both gears and means for turning said gears at different rates of speed.

2. In combination with a winding-shaft, a gear loose thereon and a gear of different diameter lixed thereon, a spring connecting both gears and means for turning said gears at different rates of speed.

3. In combination with a winding-shaft, a gear loose thereon and a gear of difi'erent diameter tixed thereon, a spring connecting both gears and means for turning said gears at different rates of speed comprising a pinion to mesh with the larger gear and a pinion of larger diameter to mesh with the smaller gear.

4. In combination with a winding-shaft, a the gears, and means for imparting to said gear loose thereon and a gear fixed thereon, an gears diiferent rates of speed. I0 inclosed pocket formed by said gears, a spring In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in in said pocket connecting the gears, and means presence of two Witnesses.

5 for imparting a differentiated motion to said EDWVARD H. MCCLOUD.

gears. WVitnesses:

5. In combination, a shaft, two gears mount- OLIN J. ROSS,

ed thereon, a spring between and connecting GEO. M. FINoKEL. 

